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Liverpool transfer rumours and news: Joel Matip 'deal agreed', Mario Gotze boost, Lazar Markovic to exit Anfield

Who's been linked with Liverpool today?

Thursday 14 January 2016 12:16 GMT

Schalke 04 defender Joel Matip (Getty Images)

Liverpool’s need to strengthen in defence was clear for everyone to see last night, as they conceded three easily preventable goals in their score draw with Arsenal.

Centre-back Steven Caulker, on loan for the rest of the season from Queens Park Rangers, came on as a substitute but was used up front by Jurgen Klopp.

Now, according to the Mirror, a deal has been set in place with Schalke 04 defender Joel Matip, who has been heavily linked with a move to Merseyside in recent weeks. The 24-year-old will reportedly join on a free transfer when his contract at the Veltins Arena expires this summer.

Klopp has, apparently, been an admirer of the Cameroonian international since his days at Borussia Dortmund, who was also being monitored by Sunderland.

Mario Gotze’s name will not go away but a move to Anfield still does not seem likely. Bayern Munich sporting director Mathias Sammer has ‘failed to confirm’ that the Germany international will stay with the club beyond the end of his contract, according to a number of outlets.

That’s technically true, of course, but Gotze’s comments earlier this week seemed to hint that he wants new contract talks to open, and the Bundesliga champions appear to have got the message.

"I said it was madness when there were rumours about a transfer in January, whereas Mario was talking about the end of the season,” Sammer said.

Liverpool 3 Arsenal 3 player ratings

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Liverpool 3 Arsenal 3 player ratings

Liverpool: Mignolet 5 out of 10

Calamitous as he so often is in the most important games. Could have done much better with the first two goals and rarely seemed to inspire confidence.

Liverpool 3 Arsenal 3 player ratings

Clyne 4 out of 10

Theo Walcott was invariably going to cut in from the left, so why did Clyne so rarely follow him? A good defender would look to cut off that option but surely even an adequate one might try to stick with him? Not Clyne though.

2016 Liverpool FC

Liverpool 3 Arsenal 3 player ratings

Toure 5 out of 10

Time and again he was outmuscled by the effervescent Giroud, on whom he simply could not lay a finger. The way in which the Arsenal striker turned him for his side’s third typified his display.

2015 Getty Images

Liverpool 3 Arsenal 3 player ratings

Sakho 5 out of 10

Sakho managed to produce his best and worst moments in a Liverpool shirt throughout this game, sometimes even in the same minute. Seconds after clearing the ball off the line he was easily outmuscled by Giroud, who made it 2-2.

Liverpool 3 Arsenal 3 player ratings

Moreno 5 out of 10

In an attacking sense there was much to like about Moreno’s energy and drive but he failed to get to grips with Campbell, who rarely seemed under any pressure when he had the ball.

2016 Getty Images

Liverpool 3 Arsenal 3 player ratings

Henderson 6 out of 10

One of the Liverpool players for whom this game came too soon in terms of fitness. He was unable to stamp any authority on the game in an attacking sense though he may well have been his side’s best defender by virtue of actually making a tackle.

2016 Liverpool FC

Liverpool 3 Arsenal 3 player ratings

Milner 6 out of 10

A perfectly acceptable display from Milner, who fulfilled his role of moving the ball on to the attacking players quickly and accurately. The two occasions the midfielder were dispossessed, though, were critical for his side.

2016 Liverpool FC

Liverpool 3 Arsenal 3 player ratings

Ibe 7 out of 10

Few players have given Monreal, the league’s best left-back, the marmalising Ibe inflicted. Time and again he got beyond his man and delivered tempting crosses. He did not have it quite as much his own way in the second period but he had already made a big impression.

2016 Getty Images

Liverpool 3 Arsenal 3 player ratings

Milner 6 out of 10

A perfectly acceptable display from Milner, who fulfilled his role of moving the ball on to the attacking players quickly and accurately. The two occasions the midfielder were dispossessed, though, were critical for his side.

Liverpool 3 Arsenal 3 player ratings

Firmino 7 out of 10

He certainly raises his game for the big teams. His first was a poacher’s finish Benteke would have done well to reproduce, his gorgeous curling second few could have. He could have had a third in the first half and faded in the second, but he’d already made an excellent impression. Like Lallana though, he must make it last 90 minutes.

2016 Liverpool FC

Liverpool 3 Arsenal 3 player ratings

Lallana 6 out of 10

Certainly looks a much better player under Klopp than he did with the previous regime and some of his touches, particularly a gorgeous backheel to Milner, brought beautiful flashes to the contest. But it was just flashes; yet again he failed to define the game.

2016 Liverpool FC

Liverpool 3 Arsenal 3 player ratings

Arsenal: Cech 6 out of 10

A keeper of his quality could, and should, have done much better with Can’s early effort. It rasped Cech’s palms but did not need to go straight to Firmino. The keeper could of course do nothing about the second and after the opener was as reliable as ever.

Liverpool 3 Arsenal 3 player ratings

Bellerin 6 out of 10

A quiet first half that was mostly spent trying to repel but his attacking drive got Arsenal’s third almost out of nothing. Too often the likes of Lallana managed to exploit space behind him.

2016 Liverpool FC

Liverpool 3 Arsenal 3 player ratings

Mertesacker 6 out of 10

For 75 minutes Mertesacker struggled to make an impact on the game but in the driving rain of the final minutes he was a colossus, diving in to stop chance after chance.

2016 Getty Images

Liverpool 3 Arsenal 3 player ratings

Koscielny 6 out of 10

For 75 minutes Mertesacker struggled to make an impact on the game but in the driving rain of the final minutes he was a colossus, diving in to stop chance after chance. Koscielny: 6

2016 Liverpool FC

Liverpool 3 Arsenal 3 player ratings

Monreal 6 out of 10

Struggled for much of the match with the excellent Ibe, but never stopped competing for the ball, making several crucial interventions at the back post.

2015 The Arsenal Football Club Plc

Liverpool 3 Arsenal 3 player ratings

Ramsey 6 out of 10

In an attacking sense this was an exemplary performance, grabbing a goal and an assist – and it could have been more. Too often he was careless and unreliable defensively, giving the ball away in his own half or clearing to no-one.

Liverpool 3 Arsenal 3 player ratings

Flamini 4 out of 10

As Liverpool broke time and again with pace and drive one kept thinking ‘where is Flamini’? Nowhere to be found. He may have made his fair share of tackles but he was still far too often at fault with Firmino and company found space outside the area. In the 50th minute he was spotted pressing Simon Mignolet. Is that what he’s in the side for?

2016 Getty Images

Liverpool 3 Arsenal 3 player ratings

Campbell 7 out of 10

Wenger backed his winger as a man for the critical occasions ahead of the game, and he proved just why tonight. A magnificent assist for Ramsey and a crucial role in the third were the key moments in another superb display.

2016 Liverpool FC

Liverpool 3 Arsenal 3 player ratings

Ozil 6 out of 10

How bizarre that in a game defined by attacking brilliance he was so peripheral for so long. There were of course brilliant touches and the odd pass that nearly paid off but nothing to change the course of the match.

Liverpool 3 Arsenal 3 player ratings

Walcott 6 out of 10

Really should have booted the ball away in the buildup to Liverpool’s first but things got much better after his calamitous start, with his direct running at his opponents creating plenty of chances, particularly in the second period.

2016 Getty Images

Liverpool 3 Arsenal 3 player ratings

Giroud 8 outof 10

Showed remarkable gumption to not just continue after what seemed a worrying early head injury but to keep competing for balls. Converted with ease to make it 2-2 and scored a goal as great as Firmino’s to make it 3-2. We’ll just forget that missed sitter shall we?

2016 Getty Images

"Mario's comments were an indication that we will have to sit down at some point in the coming months and discuss his situation.”

On to other targets, the club’s interest in Leicester City youngster Ben Chilwell has become an open secret.

The Reds were said to be battling it out with Arsenal and Tottenham Hotpsur for the left-back’s signature, but the Foxes are now ready to increase his £800-per-week pay packet and fend off interest.

Could Lazar Markovic be on his way out? The winger, currently on loan at Fenerbahce, has caught the eye of Fiorentina according to Italian outlet Calciomercato.

The £20million signing failed to impress former manager Brendan Rodgers and was sent to Turkey on temporary basis for the season.

However, since taking over from the Northern Irishman, Klopp has spoke of his intention to give the Serbian international a fair crack of the whip when he returns to Anfield.

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